Luke Littler has set the sporting world alight with his performances on the oche over the last few months. Could the teen sensation soon be doing something similar on the football pitch?
The 17-year-old was previously guest of honour at his favourite club, Manchester United and has also appeared at Tottenham's stadium following his strong performance at the past World Darts Championship. Littler now wants to take the field himself at Chelsea for "Soccer Aid," an annual charity match in which a mix of former players and celebrities compete against each other in a match between England and the Rest of the World.
In JackMaate's Happy Hour podcast, Littler was asked if he would compete against the likes of Usain Bolt and Eden Hazard. "100 per cent!" he answered enthusiastically. "I’ve seen they have only got about 10 people down, so if they are watching – get me in. I’m definitely not playing in goal if I play for Soccer Aid. Up front."
If things had turned out very differently, Littler could have been a regular on the pitch as a player, having recently revealed that he wanted to be a footballer as a child. However, his father Anthony Buckley kept a firm grip on the reins and steered him toward darts.
“I didn’t realise I was going to be this good, I played football beforehand, every kid, every young person wants to be a footballer. My dad said, ‘hang your boots up let’s focus on darts’. I was like, ‘I love it though. My dad said, ‘I think your ability to be a professional, you’ve got high chances.’ Six years later here I am." Littler laughs.
